Irish pub chain O'Neill's is to re-open its second branch in Cardiff city centre. The popular venue on St Mary Street used to be one of two operated by the chain in the capital, with a smaller pub formerly located on Trinity Street a short walk away.
That venue was then taken over by Nicholson's in 2014 and became the Old Market Tavern, in a nod to the historic pub building's 19th century name. However, it will become an O'Neill's once again with the chain submitting a planning application to Cardiff Council to display new signage outside the pub.
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O'Neill's has confirmed to WalesOnline that it intends to covert the pub back into a 'Little O'Neill's' venue, with its formal reopening scheduled for September 22. Plans attached to the application, which is yet to be approved by the council, show a proposed design for the pub's exterior, complete with new signs and retractable awnings as well as an outside seating area.
The pub, which was originally called the New Market Tavern, is one of the oldest in the capital and has an intriguing history. Get the latest What's On news from across Cardiff and beyond sent straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
Thought to have been built in the 1600s, it was apparently famed for the exploits of landlord Joe Holbrook, who also ran the local circus. When Holbrook died, a circus elephant named Lily reportedly drank a pint to his memory, much to the delight of the assembled regulars. From then on, legend has it, she wouldn't pass by the venue without enjoying her daily tipple.
The pub was also the birthplace of Olivia Newton-John's father, Brinley. The Grease star's grandfather ran the pub, which she visited in 2007 as part of a BBC documentary.
However, unfortunately for O'Neill's, the building is also rumoured to be haunted by the ghostly figure of Dic Penderyn, who was hanged just around the corner outside the former gaol on St Mary Street. You can read more about Dic and the remarkable past of St Mary Street here.
The opening of 'Little O'Neill's' will not affect the existing larger venue on St Mary Street, the chain has confirmed. A spokesperson for the Old Market Tavern added: “We’re excited to share that the pub will be converting into an O’Neill’s, with the reopening scheduled for 22nd September.”
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